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Festivals and Conferences

Eastman School of Music presents, hosts, and participates in multiple conferences every year.

Eastman Rochester Organ Initiative Festival 2026:
Bach Reflected

Monday, November 9–Tuesday, November 10, 2026

Hosted by David Higgs, professor of organ; and DMA candidates Mitch Miller and Matthew Luca

The EROI Festival has been an ongoing event of the Eastman School of Music’s Organ Department since its inception in 2002. Its aim is to bring together performers, scholars, and organ builders to share experiences and research that enrich organ education at Eastman and the wider community. The festival has coincided with major installations for the department, such as the Italian Baroque organ in the Memorial Art Gallery and the Craighead-Saunders organ in Christ Church. This year’s festival focuses on the great composer Johann Sebastian Bach. More specifically, his influence, reflected in his pedagogy, which has impacted three centuries of performers, teachers, composers, and musicologists.

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Presented by the National Association of Teachers of Singing
Upstate New York Chapter

Upstate NY NATS – Fall 2026 Student Auditions

Saturday, November 14, 2026

Formerly known as the Central New York Finger Lakes Chapter, the Upstate New York (UNY) Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing invites you to join our community in the mission of “transforming lives through the power of singing.”

The 2026 UNY-NATS Student Auditions feature an updated format designed to expand participation and better support singers and educators, culminating in live semifinals and finals on Saturday, November 14 at the Eastman School of Music.

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Presented by the New York State School Music Association

NYSSMA Winter 2026

Saturday, December 5–6, 2026

Wind Ensemble, String Orchestra, Women’s Chorus Concert
December 5 | 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM | Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre

Mixed Choir/Symphonic Band/Symphony Orchestra Concert/Ensemble
December 6 | 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM | Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre

The mission of the New York State School Music Association is to advance music education across New York State for its membership and students in member school programs.

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Photo of two students leaning over notebooks and writing

Sound In/As Theory: Means and Meanings in Motion

Thursday, April 22–Saturday, April 24

Hosted by Darren Mueller, associate professor of musicology, and Landon Morrison, assistant professor of music theory

This interdisciplinary conference explores sound as a musical, political, and social phenomenon, uniting scholars who theorize sound with artists whose performances engage with similar questions and theoretical positions. The program features keynote addresses, research presentations, roundtables, masterclasses, workshops, and concerts—including works by Eastman School of Music’s Electroacoustic Music Studio (EMuSE) and Howard Hanson Visiting Composer George Lewis. Drawing together researchers, composers, and performers across disciplines, the conference promises a rich exchange of ideas and sounds. With support from the CNY Humanities Corridor and the Eastman Musicology Department’s Watkins Lecture Series.

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Past Events

Ableton Educator’s Day
Friday, October 9, 2026

Hosted by Dennis DeSantis, associate professor of music and technology

Ableton Educator’s Day is a professional development event designed for educators integrating Ableton into their classrooms, and anyone passionate about music technology in education. You’ll experience the latest updates across Ableton Live, Push, and Move through presentations, hands-on demonstrations, and guided music-making experiences. Connect with the team behind the tools, exchange ideas with peers, and meet innovative educators advancing music technology in education.

Admission is free, but space is limited and registration is required. 

Presented by Gateways Music Festival

Gateways 2026 Fall Festival
Friday, October 9-Monday, October 12, 2026

Gateways Music Festival, in association with the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music, will launch its 2026 Fall Festival in Rochester with an expansive lineup of performances by professional Black classical artists. Events are scheduled from October 9-12 in Eastman’s historic concert halls. “At Gateways, music isn’t just heard—it’s felt. It moves through the room, connecting people across time, tradition, and lived experience,” shares Gateways Music Festival President & Artistic Director Alex Laing.

Presented by the National Organization for Arts in Health

NOAHCON 2026
Sunday, October 11–Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Virtual Day Wednesday, October 28, 2026

Annual NOAH (National Organization for Arts in Health) conferences create space to explore timely topics in arts in health, share effective programs and practices across healthcare and community settings, and connect with a growing network to inspire conversation, collaboration, and innovation.

Unless otherwise noted, all events listed here are presented by the Eastman School of Music.

To learn more about these events, and all upcoming festivals and conferences, visit our online calendar.